Cleveland Browns: 2017 NFL Draft Projected Targets
By Peter Smith
Perimeter Receivers
Chris Godwin, Penn State
Age: 21 years old (Born Feb. 27, 1996)
Height: 6-1
Weight: 209 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.42s
Broad Jump: 10’6″
Vertical: 36″
3-Cone: 7.01s
Shuttle: 4s
Bench: 19 reps
Production: 59 receptions for 982 yards (26.9 percent), 11 touchdowns (37.9 percent)
Notes: Godwin was the Nittany Lions primary option for both Christian Hackenberg in 2015 and Trace McSorley in 2016. While he really put himself on the map for his Rose Bowl performance but he’s put together the most impressive profile for the NFL of any receiver in this class.
Corey Davis, Western Michigan
Age: 22 years old (Born Jan. 11, 1995)
Height: 6-2.75
Weight: 209 lbs
40 Yard Dash: DNP (Injury)
Broad Jump: DNP
Vertical: DNP
3-Cone: DNP
Shuttle: DNP
Bench: DNP
Production: 97 receptions for 1,500 yards (42.4 percent), 19 touchdowns (57.5 percent)
Notes: Davis had ankle surgery in January to repair two ligaments for an injury he suffered in training. He previously missed the Senior Bowl due to a shoulder injury. On tape, Davis is the best receiver in the class, but without the athletic data, there’s a missing piece to the evaluation.
Zay Jones, East Carolina
Age: 22 years old (Born March 30, 1995)
Height: 6-1.875
Weight: 201 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.45s
Broad Jump: 11’1″
Vertical: 36.5″
3-Cone: 6.79s
Shuttle: 4.01s
Bench: 15 reps
Production: 158 receptions for 1,746 yards (43.4 percent), 8 touchdowns (30.7 percent)
Notes: His uncle is former ECU and NFL quarterback Jeff Blake. His cousin Emory Blake was a receiver at Auburn and his brother Cayleb played at Arizona. Jones is the career receptions leader in NCAA history with 399.
John Ross, Washington
Age: 22 years old (Born Nov. 27, 1994)
Height: 5-10.75
Weight: 189 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.22s
Broad Jump: 11’1″
Vertical: 37″
3-Cone: DNP
Shuttle: DNP
Bench: DNP
Production: 81 receptions for 1,150 yards (31.7 percent), 17 touchdowns (36.1 percent)
Notes: Ross just had shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum. He’s also torn his left ACL, the meniscus in each knee and had to have microfracture surgery already in his young career. Nevertheless, running a 4.22 40 with an injured shoulder is even more impressive.
Mike Williams, Clemson
Age: 22 years old (Born Oct. 4, 1994)
Height: 6-3.75
Weight: 218 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.57s (Pro Day)
Broad Jump: 10’1″
Vertical: 32.5″
3-Cone: DNP
Shuttle: DNP
Bench: 15 reps
Production: 98 receptions for 1,361 yards (27.1 percent), 11 touchdowns (24.4 percent)
Notes: Took a medical redshirt after suffering a broken neck in 2015. Williams may be the best jump ball receiver but the 40 time he ran at Clemson is dubious at best and suggests he would’ve run closer to 4.7 at the combine.
Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M
Age: 22 years old (Born Feb. 16, 1995)
Height: 6-2.75
Weight: 194 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.52s
Broad Jump: 10’4″
Vertical: 37″
3-Cone: 6.83s
Shuttle: 4.13s
Bench: DNP
Production: 61 receptions for 1,039 yards (31.3 percent), 12 touchdowns (48 percent)
Notes: Started his career at Tyler Junior before becoming an early enrollee for Texas A&M as a sophomore. In his three seasons with the Aggies with three different quarterbacks, Reynolds recorded 2,788 receiving yards and 30 touchdowns.
Carlos Henderson, Louisiana Tech
Age: 22 (Born Dec. 19, 1994)
Height: 5-10.75
Weight: 199 lbs
40-Yard Dash: 4.46s
Vertical: 36″
Broad Jump: 10’11″
3 Cone: 7.18s
Short Shuttle: 4.35s
Bench Press: 13 reps
Production: 82 receptions for 1,535 yards (30.1 percent), 19 touchdowns (44.1 percent)
Notes: Henderson tied with Corey Davis for the most receiving touchdowns in the nation and had 35 more yards.
Juju Smith-Schuster, USC
Age: 20 (Nov. 22, 1996)
Height: 6-1.375
Weight: 215 lbs
40-Yard Dash: 4.54s
Vertical: 32.5″
Broad Jump: 10′
3 Cone: 6.93s (Pro Day)
Short Shuttle: 4.18s (Pro Day)
Bench Press: 15 reps
Production: 70 receptions for 914 yards (25.3 percent), 10 touchdowns (30.3 percent)
Notes: Schuster’s explosion is sufficient, but what he lacks there, he makes up for with his youth and how well he uses his body to box opponents out and his terrific feet. He’s an advanced route runner for his age.
Robert Davis, Georgia State
Age: 21 (Born April 2, 1995)
Height: 6-2.75
Weight: 219 lbs
40-Yard Dash: 4.44s
Vertical: 41″
Broad Jump: 11’4″
3 Cone: 6.82s
Short Shuttle: 4.28s
Bench Press: 19 reps
Production: 67 receptions for 968 yards (32.7 percent), 5 touchdowns (29.4 percent)
Notes: Davis is related to Thomas Davis of the Carolina Panthers. He has the most impressive athletic profile of any receiver and arguably any player in this entire class, but he’s not a fully formed player yet and needs to learn how to gain separation and use his body more effectively.
Josh Malone, Tennessee
Age: 21 (Born March 21, 1996)
Height: 6-2.625
Weight: 208 lbs
40-Yard Dash: 4.4s
Vertical: 30.5″
Broad Jump: 10’1″
3 Cone: 7.05s
Short Shuttle: 4.19s
Bench Press: 10 reps
Production: 50 receptions for 972 yards (31.3 percent), 11 touchdowns (39.2 percent)
Notes: Malone evolved into the Vols’ best receiver and Dobbs’ favorite target this year and he’s just turned 21. Between his development the past year and his impressive athletic profile, he may be just scratching the surface on what he can be.
Chad Hansen, Cal
Age: 22 (Jan 18, 1995)
Height: 6-1.875
Weight: 204 lbs
40-Yard Dash: 4.53s (4.4s at Pro Day)
Vertical: 35″
Broad Jump: 9’11″
3 Cone: 6.74s
Short Shuttle: 4.13s
Bench Press: 11 reps
Production: 92 receptions for 1,249 yards (29 percent), 11 touchdowns (29.7 percent)
Notes: Hansen played his freshman season at Idaho State before transferring to Cal. He became the primary weapon for the Golden Bears when the top five weapons graduated or declared for the draft along with Goff.
ArDarius Stewart, Alabama
Age: Unavailable
Height: 5-11.25
Weight: 204 lbs
40-Yard Dash: 4.49s
Vertical: 34″
Broad Jump: 10’3″
3 Cone: DNP
Short Shuttle: DNP
Bench Press: 10 reps
Production: 54 receptions for 864 yards (27.3 percent), 8 touchdowns (30.7 percent)
Notes: Stewart led the team in receiving yardage and touchdowns despite missing three games. Two of them were due to a knee injury, but the last one is the big question. Stewart was dressed but did not play against Chattanooga for “…violating our standards of behavior.” Finding out the answer might impact his status on the Browns draft board.
Amara Darboh, Michigan
Age: 23 (Born Feb. 1, 1994)
Height: 6-1.75
Weight: 214 lbs
40-Yard Dash: 4.45s
Vertical: 36″
Broad Jump: 10’4″ (Pro Day)
3 Cone: 6.81s (Pro Day)
Short Shuttle: 4.27s
Bench Press: 17 reps
Production: 57 receptions for 862 yards (31.2 percent), 7 touchdowns (35 percent)
Notes: Darboh was born in Sierra Leone, left the war torn country with his family to Gambia by age three, found their way to Iowa by age seven and was taken in by a family when he was in the sixth grade. He officially became an American citizen at age 21.
Fred Ross, Mississippi State
Age: 21 (Born May 9, 1995)
Height: 6-.625
Weight: 213 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.51s
Broad Jump: 9’5″
Vertical: 35″
3-Cone: 6.99s
Shuttle: 4.28s
Bench: 10 reps
Production: 72 receptions for 917 yards (33.6 percent), 12 touchdowns (50 percent)
Notes: With nicknames including “June Bug” and “the Boss,” Ross was Dak Prescott’s favorite receiver in 2015 and Nick Fitzgerald in 2016.
DeAngelo Yancey, Purdue
Age: 22 (Nov. 18, 1994)
Height: 6-1.625
Weight: 220 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.53s (Pro Day)
Broad Jump: 10’1″
Vertical: 35.5″
3-Cone: 6.84s
Shuttle: 4.27s
Bench: 21 reps
Production: 49 receptions for 1,156 yards (26.9 percent), 10 touchdowns (40 percent)
Notes: Yancey is built like a tailback, but functioned as a deep threat and has shown ability after the catch. He led Purdue in receiving yards and touchdowns each of the past two seasons.
Kenny Golladay, Northern Illinois
Age: Unavailable
Height: 6-3.75
Weight: 218 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.5s
Broad Jump: 10’
Vertical: 35.5″
3-Cone: 7s
Shuttle: 4.15s
Bench: 18 reps
Production: 87 receptions for 1,156 yards (43 percent), 8 touchdowns (40 percent), rushed for 192 yards, 2 more touchdowns
Notes: Golladay played his first two seasons at North Dakota before transferring to Northern Illinois. In his two seasons with the Huskies, Golladay was the main receiving threat, accounting for more yards than the next three receivers combined each year.
Michael Clark, Marshall
Age: 21 (Born Oct. 26, 1995)
Height: 6-5.625
Weight: 217 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.53s
Broad Jump: 10’6″
Vertical: 33″
3-Cone: 7.54s
Shuttle: 4.31s
Bench: 17 reps
Production: 37 receptions for 632 yards (21.7 percent), 5 touchdowns (17.8 percent)
Notes: Started his career at St. Francis (PA) where he played basketball. After transferring to Marshall, Clark played organized football for the first time since his freshman year of high school.
Krishawn Hogan, Marian
Age: Unavailable
Height: 6-2.625
Weight: 222 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.56s
Broad Jump: 10’3″
Vertical: 36.5″
3-Cone: 6.74s
Shuttle: 4.21s
Bench: 13 reps
Production: 80 receptions for 1,435 yards (39.1 percent), 15 touchdowns (38.4 percent)
Notes: Hogan was a late bloomer and didn’t really do much as a player at Warren Central High School in Ohio before going to Walsh University. After a freshman season where he caught 32 passes for 393 yards, he transferred to Marian University, an NAIA school.
Zach Pascal, Old Dominion
Age: 22 (Born Dec. 18, 1994)
Height: 6-1.75
Weight: 219 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.55s
Broad Jump: 10’6″
Vertical: 36″
3-Cone: 7.11s
Shuttle: 4.29s
Bench: 14 reps
Production: 65 receptions for 946 yards (31 percent), 9 touchdowns (29 percent)
Notes: Pascal leaves ODU as the all time leading receiver in school history with 233 receptions. He was the leading receiver the past two seasons and has 31 career touchdowns.
Tim Patrick, Utah
Age: 23 (Born Nov. 23, 1993)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 210 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.47s
Broad Jump: 10’8″
Vertical: 37.5″
3-Cone: Unavailable
Shuttle: 4.38s
Bench: 22 reps
Production: 45 receptions for 711 yards (25.2 percent), 5 touchdowns (33 percent)
Notes: Started his collegiate career at Grossmont College playing both football and basketball. Patrick missed second half of the 2014 season with a broken leg. He took a medical redshirt after suffering a season ending leg injury in the first game of 2015.
David Moore, East Central (Oklahoma)
Age: 22 (Born Dec. 18, 1994)
Height: 6-0.625
Weight: 219 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.43s
Broad Jump: 10’4″
Vertical: 36.5″
3-Cone: 6.98s
Shuttle: 4.38s
Bench: 26 reps
Production: 57 receptions for 878 yards (30.6 percent), 10 touchdowns (47.6 percent)
Notes: Moore leaves East Central as the all-time leader in receiving yards (2,766 yards) and touchdowns (35).